Public Funding for Capillary Film Technology Ltd

Vision Our long-term goal is to tackle the challenge of rising AMR levels that leads to reduced milk production through hard-to-treat mastitis in dairy cattle (cutting family income), and untreatable human infections. Although India is the world's largest milk producing nation, most dairy farms are not industrialised- instead thousands of small farms provide milk locally. Family income is dependent on healthy cows and buffalo, yet bacterial infection (mastitis) is becoming harder to treat as widespread antibiotic use drives high AMR levels. We will support this vulnerable population of rural farmers by designing simple AMR testing products that can be used outside central labs. AMR spreads rapidly and drug-resistant bacteria not only harms animals and limits productivity but also presents a major human health threat, especially in India where families live in close proximity to dairy cattle. Without monitoring and accurate data, it is impossible to control AMR, but AMR is difficult and expensive to measure. Current tests are slow (\>2 days) and laborious and can only be performed in microbiology laboratories limiting the number of samples. CFT has developed a simple, miniature version of standard tests which not only simplifies lab testing, but allows testing outside centralised labs. Results are recorded by smartphone camera and test devices can be mass-produced at low cost (CFT already manufactures <£0.50/test) allowing large-scale deployment to new and emerging markets such as India. Mastitis costs farmers £10 per infected cow through treatment and lost productivity. This technology can help tackle AMR in dairy farming in India. Feasibility study This phase 1 study aims to design specific products to help tackle AMR in dairy farming in India. Working with Indian partners we will optimise a product with maximum potential to benefit the most vulnerable people affected by drug-resistant mastitis. Envisaged impacts in India Cost-effective monitoring of AMR is essential, locally to permit selection of effective antibiotics, and nationally to support government networks. Family farms will avoid economic losses from poorly treated mastitis, and our innovation also aligns with the Indian Government's recently published National Action Plan for Dairy Development. Increased productivity will allow some farmers to access expanding urban markets and a pathway to export; but export requires more stringent AMR monitoring and antibiotic control. Public health will benefit from AMR surveillance by lowering risk of drug-resistant human infections. CFT will partner with Indian biotechnology industry to co-develop products, driving job creation and expanding innovation capacity.

"POCKiT diagnostics is a UK company focused on the research and development of point-of-care diagnostic devices. Our main target is to develop a device for diagnosis of brain stroke. Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the first cause of physical disability and dementia worldwide. In stroke, the brain is damaged by restricted blood flow to the brain, which leads to death of brain cells. Two main types of stroke exist with patients having similar symptoms: ischemic stroke (IS) and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH); whilst they have similar symptoms, treatment is opposite. IS is caused by a clot in the brain- and treated with 'clotbusting' drugs which dissolve the clot. If the clotbusting drug given fast enough (within 3-4 hours) the patient may recover with little or no damage to the brain. ICH is caused by bleeding in the brain. Clotbusting drugs incorrectly given to ICH patient prevents clotting and healing, which is a disaster. Therefore, accurate diagnosis of stroke subtype is paramount to inform appropriate treatment, as administration of the wrong treatment can lead to patient death. Unfortunately, if treatment is delayed- for example to wait for results of slow diagnostic tests, or during transport of patient to the hospital- it becomes less effective. Currently, diagnosis of stroke is performed with CT imaging- a brain scan- which takes a significant length of time, it is not always available and the patient must be taken to equipped hospital, and is not accurate enough. ""Fplus1"" is a revolutionary innovation in that it combines ultra-rapid (<20 minutes) detection of blood biomarkers that are highly specific for stroke subtypes, within a point-of-care device. In other words, the brain scan is replaced by a rapid blood test. Moreover, ""Fplus1"" will be low-cost and will reduce the need for specialized medical personnel, ultimately resulting in significant cost reduction for healthcare providers. Currently, there are no point-of-care devices on the market for the accurate and rapid diagnosis of brain stroke subtype. In the virtual absence of competition, our innovation has the potential to disrupt and revolutionise current diagnosis of brain stroke and significantly reduce stroke-induced death and disabilities. The collaborative network brought together within this project aims at bringing forward the ""Fplus1"" prototype towards full development of a product upon regulatory approval, ""Fplus1"" will initially be introduced in the United Kingdom market, with the final goal of expansion to the European and global market."